Fluid control systems

Abstract

Apparatus for use in, for example, separating oil from water, which comprises a vortex chamber adapted to admit through an inlet a flow of oil and water, means, (e.g. a helical coil shaped wall member of a “Clock Spring Guide”), device adapted to impart a rotational movement to the admitted oil and water so as to form within the chamber a rotating fluid mass within which a nonturbulent vortex of oil floats on the water. Oil removal pipe provides means for the removal of oil from the oil vortex, and outlet means located below the level of the floating oil provides for the escape of water from the vortex chamber. Variable flow regulating means is located at or downstream of the outlet means to regulate the rate of flow of water through the chamber. A tilted corrugated plate separator housed in chamber may be interposed between the water outlet means of the vortex chamber and the variable flow regulating means to separate residual oil in the emergent water. Oil removal pipe inlets lead out of chamber from the zones where layers of separated oil accumulate. The variable flow regulating means serves to control the fluid surface levels in both vortex chamber and separation chamber. Removal of separated oil of its own accord during operation through any oil removal pipe inlet is secured by setting the relative levels of the rim of such inlet and the fluid surface level provided by the downstream variable flow regulating means so that when water alone constitutes the flow, the rim is located above, but close to the water surface level but, when the fluid surface level is raised by accumulation of floating oil around or proximate to the inlet, oil flows over the rim into the oil removal pipe.

1 . A weir valve arrangement which comprises a pipe member having an expanded upper end bounded at least in part by a rim, the rim optionally being provided with a projection, preferably contained and maintained in a substantially horizontal plane, the length of the rim or of its horizontal projection being greater than the inner circumference of the pipe, together with apparatus whereby the vertical disposition of the rim may be regulated so that it acts as the rim of a weir of variable height that is adapted to govern 
 i. the rate of flow of liquid out of and/or into the pipe, and/or    ii. respectively the surface level of a body of liquid which is 
 a. connected to liquid within the pipe, or  
 b. connected to liquid outside the pipe.  
   
     
     
         2 . A weir valve arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  herein the length of the rim or of its horizontal projection exceeds the inner circumference of the pipe by a factor of a least 2 to 1.  
     
     
         3 . A weir valve arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the rim is contained in a plane and is adapted to be disposed horizontally.  
     
     
         4 . A weir valve arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the rim comprises one or more upwardly extending projections.  
     
     
         5 . A weir valve arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  in which the expended upper end of the pipe member is in the form of a fish connected to the remainder of the pipe member so as to provide access into and out of the pipe member through a central base aperture.  
     
     
         6 . A weir valve arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the pipe member is telescopically mounted on or within a support.  
     
     
         7 . A weir valve arrangement as claimed in  claim 6  which comprises screw threaded mounting means whereby the vertical disposition of the rim may be regulated.  
     
     
         8 . A weir valve arrangement as claimed in  claim 6  which comprises rack and pinion means whereby the vertical disposition of the rim may be regulated.  
     
     
         9 . A weir valve arrangement as claimed in  claim 6  comprising liquid sealing means between the pipe member and its support in the form of one or more “O” rings.  
     
     
         10 . A weir valve device in which an arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  is housed within a chamber within which liquid may flow over the weir rim during operation either outwardly from the pipe member or, alternatively, inwardly into the pipe member.  
     
     
         11 . Apparatus comprising a plurality of weir valve devices a claimed in  claim 1  connected in parallel to receive an inflow of liquid with the weir rims of the several housed arrangements being set at different levels in sequence, the level of the lowest weir rim being below that of the next in line and, in the case of three or more devices, that of each subsequent weir rim above that of its predecessor in the sequence.  
     
     
         12 . Deleted.  
     
     
         13 . Deleted.  
     
     
         14 . A corrugated plate for use in separating two masses of flowable matter having different specific gravities which comprises adjacent longitudinal grooves disposed between corresponding ridges, the depth of each groove being arranged to increase progressively simultaneously with a progressive decrease in the mean angle between the groove sides (as herein defined) along the one or other longitudinal direction.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus for separating two masses of flowable matter having different specific gravities which comprises at least one, and preferably a plurality of tilted corrugated plates as claimed in  claim 14 .  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 15  adapted to separate a liquid and a flowable mass of particles of higher density in which the corrugated plates are tilted so as to allow downward flow of the liquid and particles to be separated over the upwardly facing surfaces of the plates along the direction of the grooves that increase progressively in the depth in the direction of flow.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 15  adapted to separate two liquids of different specific gravities (exemplified below by oil and water) which comprises a separation chamber together with means whereby a flow of the oil and water to be separated (referred to below as “the feed flow”) is caused to impinge against the lower end of one or more tilted plates located within the chamber and proceed upwardly in contact with the downwardly facing surface of the plate or plates along the direction in which the depth of the grooves increases progressively as the flow proceeds.  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 17  which comprises downstream valve means for controlling the fluid surface level or levels within the separation chamber.  
     
     
         19 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  in which the downstream valve means is constituted by a Tulip Valve as referred to herein.  
     
     
         20 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  which comprises oil removal pipe inlets leading out of the separation chamber and in which the downstream valve means is adapted to be set to provide a fluid surface level within the separation chamber: 
 i. that is below but close to the level of any or each of the inlet rims when water alone passes through the chamber  
 ii. that will allow oil to flow over such inlet rim into its associated oil removal pipe when the oil surface level rises to the level of the rim upon the accumulation of floating oil around and/or proximate to such inlet rim.  
 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 17  which comprises: 
 i. a plurality of corrugated plates as claimed in  claim 1  arranged in sequence with each respective lower rim in sealed contact with the base of the separation chamber and each upper rim adapted to be submerged below water level during operation, and  
 ii. Barrier means located between successive plates in the sequence, the lower rim of each barrier being located above the base of the separation chamber so as to provide a gap adapted to allow the feed flow to pass below the barrier during operation and the upper rim of each barrier being adapted to extend above the fluid surface level during operation.  
 
     
     
         22 . A modification of the apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  in which Stacked Plate units as referred to herein are substituted for any or all of the corrugated plates and, in relation to each Stacked Plate unit, the reference to the lower rim in sealed contact with the base of the separation chamber is to be taken to be a reference to the lower rim that is lowest of the lower rims in any particular Stacked Plate unit.  
     
     
         23 . Apparatus as claimed in either of claims  21  or  22  in which each or any of the fluid zones between successive barrier means is provided with an oil removal pipe inlet leading out of the separation chamber and in which the downstream valve means is adapted to set a fluid surface level within any such zone: 
 i. that is below but close to the level of the inlet rim of the oil removal pipe when water alone passes through the chamber, and  
 ii. that will allow oil to flow over such inlet rim into its associated oil removal pipe when the oil surface level rises to the level of the rim upon accumulation of floating oil around and/or proximate to the inlet rim.  
 
     
     
         24 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 20  in which the level of the rim of the inlet of any of the oil removal pipes is adjustable vertically.  
     
     
         25 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 17  which includes filter matrix means that is located downstream of the separation chamber and adapted to separate fine residual particles of oil from the feed flow.  
     
     
         26 . Apparatus as claimed in any of  claims 17  to  24  which includes fluid flow stabilising means located upstream of the separation chamber.  
     
     
         27 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  in which the fluid flow stabilising means comprises a chamber that houses the device described herein and referred to as a “Clock Spring Guide”.  
     
     
         28 . A method of separating oil from water in which an oil and water feed flow is passed through apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 .  
     
     
         29 . Deleted.  
     
     
         30 . Deleted.  
     
     
         31 . A vortex chamber in the form of or comprising a device adapted to convert a flow of liquid entering the chamber into a vortex where the device includes a wall member having the configuration of a helix when seen in plan view that stands on a base member and defines a helical path of progressively diminishing radius adapted to receive the flow or a layer of the flow and guide the same along the said path to the zone around the centre of the helix, such zone comprising liquid outlet means passing through the base member.  
     
     
         32 . A vortex chamber as claimed in  claim 31  for the separation of oil and water adapted to receive a flow of oil and water entering the chamber and comprising means for the removal of oil from a discrete floating oil vortex formed within the chamber.  
     
     
         33 . A vortex chamber as claimed in  claim 32  in which the upper rim of the helical wall member is progressively lowered in the direction towards the centre.  
     
     
         34 . A vortex chamber as claimed in  claim 32  in which the oil removal means comprises an oil removal pipe having its inlet adapted to be located within the floating oil vortex when formed.  
     
     
         35 . A vortex chamber as claimed in  claim 32  in which the oil removal means comprises an oil removal pipe having its inlet rim adapted to be located at a level that is close to but above the surface level of water when a flow of water alone is passed through the chamber so that, upon the elevation of the fluid surface level within the vortex chamber accompanying the accumulation of oil within the floating oil vortex when formed, oil flows past the inlet rim and into the oil removal pipe.  
     
     
         36 . A vortex chamber as claimed in  claim 34  in which the oil removal pipe extends upwardly through middle part of the chamber and a horizontal baffle plate encircles the oil removal pipe at a level adapted to be below the floating vortex when formed.  
     
     
         37 . A vortex chamber as claimed in  claim 31  in which the rim of the outer circumferential coil of the helical wall member and that part of the rim of the first inner coil that lies at or adjacent to the mouth of the helix are adapted to stand proud of the fluid surface level of the flow of liquid entering the chamber through an inlet located at or adjacent to the mouth of the helix and above a barrier 
 i. that extends upwardly from the base to span the gap between the said outer and first inner coils, and  
 ii. that is adapted to terminate below the fluid surface level.  
 
     
     
         38 . A vortex chamber as claimed in  claim 31  that is adapted to be partially immersed in a body of oil containing water so as to admit a flow of oil and water.  
     
     
         39 . A vortex chamber as claimed in  claim 38  in which the liquid outlet means passing through the base member leads to a downwardly extending outlet pipe that is provided with means adapted to act on rotating water passing through the pipe to impel it downwardly.  
     
     
         40 . An arrangement which comprises a vortex chamber as claimed in  claim 3   8  and buoyant support means whereby the inlet to the vortex chamber may be adapted to face and admit into the chamber an oncoming relative flow of oil contaminated water.  
     
     
         41 . A vortex chamber as claimed in  claim 31  that is provided with a tangential entry port and that comprises a device which is adapted to impart rotational movement to the flow in the same direction as that imparted as a result of tangential entry.  
     
     
         42 . A method of separating oil from water using a vortex chamber as claimed in  claim 31  which includes the steps of 
 i. directing a flow or a component layer of a flow of oil and water along the helical path within the chamber so as to transform the flow into a whirling fluid mass within which oil floats as a discrete oil vortex buoyantly supported by whirling water;  
 ii. withdrawing oil from the oil vortex, and  
 iii. permitting water to escape through the liquid outlet means passing through the base member.  
 
     
     
         43 . A method as claimed in  claim 42  wherein use is made of a vortex chamber as claimed in  claim 35  in which the oil removal pipe inlet is disposed so that oil from the oil vortex flows over the rim of the inlet into the pipe of its own accord under gravity when the fluid surface level of the oil rises as oil accumulates in the oil vortex.  
     
     
         44 . A vortex chamber as claimed in  claim 31  adapted to stabilise a liquid flow that is passed through it.  
     
     
         45 . A method as claimed in  claim 32  in which the flow of oil and water is firstly passed through a vortex chamber as claimed in  claim 34 .  
     
     
         46 . Deleted.  
     
     
         47 . Deleted.  
     
     
         48 . Apparatus for separating oil from water, the apparatus comprising: 
 i. a vortex chamber adapted to admit through an inlet a flow of oil and water;    ii. means adapted to impart a rotational movement to the admitted oil and water so as to form within the chamber a rotating fluid mass within which a non-turbulent vortex of oil floats on the water;    iii. means for the removal of oil from the oil vortex;    iv. outlet means adapted to be located below the level of the floating oil for the escape of water from the vortex chamber, and    v. variable flow regulating means located at or downstream of the outlet means and adapted to regulate the rate of flow of water through the chamber.    
     
     
         49 . Apparatus for separating floating oil from water which comprises: 
 i. a forward part adapted to receive a flow of water that bears a floating layer of oil;    ii. a vortex chamber located downstream of the forward part adapted to admit through an inlet an upper layer of the flow of water, together with the layer of oil floating thereon;    iii. means adapted to impart a rotational movement to the admitted oil and water so as to form within the chamber a rotating fluid mass within which a nonturbulent vortex of oil floats on the water;    iv. means for the removal of oil from the oil vortex;    v. outlet means adapted to be located below the level of the floating oil for the escape of water from the vortex chamber;    vi. bypass means having inlet means in the said forward part adapted to admit water from below the oil/water interface upstream of the vortex chamber inlet and to divert the admitted water past the vortex chamber; and    vii. variable flow regulating means adapted to regulate the rate of flow of water through the bypass means.    
     
     
         50 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 48 , further comprising a forward part adapted to receive a flow of water that bears a floating layer of oil, the vortex chamber being located downstream of the forward part and being adapted to admit through the inlet an upper layer of the flow of water together with the layer of oil floating thereon, the apparatus further comprising bypass means having inlet means in the forward part adapted to admit water from below the oil/water interface upstream of the vortex chamber inlet and to divert the admitted water passed the vortex chamber, and variable flow regulating means adapted to regulate the rate of flow of water through the bypass means.  
     
     
         51 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 48  that comprises variable oil flow regulating means adapted to regulate the flow of oil on its removal from the oil vortex.  
     
     
         52 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 49  or, insofar as it is dependent upon  claim 49 ,  claim 51  which comprises a vortex chamber inlet variable flow regulating means controlling the upper part of the vortex chamber inlet and adapted to regulate the flow of floating oil into the vortex chamber.  
     
     
         53 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 52  in which the vortex chamber inlet variable flow regulating means comprises an hinged gate adapted to extend across the upper part of the vortex chamber inlet and opening to admit fluid flow into the vortex chamber.  
     
     
         54 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein the flow regulating means (whether eater, oil or oil/water) comprises in each or any case a sluice gate means.  
     
     
         55 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 54  in which the sluice gate means comprises variable height weir means.  
     
     
         56 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 8  in which the sluice gate means comprises a weir valve according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         57 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein the means adapted to impart comprises a Clock Spring Guide as herein defined.  
     
     
         58 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 48  which includes flow stabilising means adapted to act on the flow of oil and water upstream of the vortex chamber.  
     
     
         59 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 58  in which the flow stabilising means comprises a Clock Spring Guide as herein defined.  
     
     
         60 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 48  wherein the means for the removal of oil from the oil vortex comprises an oil removal pipe having its inlet adapted to be located within the floating oil vortex when formed.  
     
     
         61 . A modification of the apparatus as claimed in  claim 60 , wherein the oil removal pipe has its inlet rim adapted to be located at a level that is close to but above the surface level of the water within the vortex chamber as controlled by the variable flow regulating means mentioned in  claim 1  when water alone flows through the chamber so that, during operation, upon the elevation of the fluid surface level within the vortex chamber accompanying the accumulation of oil within the floating oil vortex, oil flows over the rim into the oil removal pipe.  
     
     
         62 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 48  which includes means located along the path of flow between the vortex chamber outlet and the downstream variable flow regulating means for the removal of residual oil carried by the water emerging from the vortex chamber.  
     
     
         63 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 62  in which the means for the removal of residual oil includes a tilted plate separator comprising one or a plurality of tilted corrugated plates located in a separation chamber.  
     
     
         64 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 63  in which the fluid surface levels in both the vortex chamber and the separation chamber are regulated by the downstream variable flow regulating means.  
     
     
         65 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 64  in which the corrugated plates are Lemer Plates as defined herein.  
     
     
         66 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 65  in which the tilted plate separator comprises apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 .  
     
     
         67 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 63  in which the tilted plate separator comprises oil removal pipes having their inlet rims adapted to be located at a level that is close to but above the level of the water within one or more surface oil accumulation zones in the separation chamber as controlled by the downstream variable flow regulating means when water alone flows through the chamber so that, during operation, upon the elevation of the fluid surface level in any zone accompanying the accumulation of separated oil within such zone, oil flows over the rim into its associated oil removal pipe.  
     
     
         68 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 67  in which the level of the inlet rims is vertically adjustable.  
     
     
         69 . Apparatus as claimed in claims  64  in which the downstream variable flow regulating means comprises a Tulip Valve as defined herein.  
     
     
         70 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 48  which includes in the line of flow downstream of the vortex chamber filter matrix means adapted to separate fine particles of oil from the flow.  
     
     
         71 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 70  insofar as it is dependent on  claim 63  wherein the filter matrix means is located downstream of the separation chamber.  
     
     
         72 . Apparatus for the separation of oil and water as claimed in  claim 48  adapted to be partially immersed in a body of water so as to admit fluid flow into the vortex chamber.  
     
     
         73 . An arrangement that comprises apparatus as claimed in  claim 72  together with water impelling means located downstream of the vortex chamber outlet that is adapted to draw water out of the outlet.  
     
     
         74 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 73  that is adapted to be buoyantly supported on a body of water with the water impelling means adapted to propel the arrangement through the water with the vortex chamber inlet facing the direction of movement.  
     
     
         75 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 73  wherein the water impelling means is a marine outboard engine.  
     
     
         76 . Deleted.  
     
     
         77 . Deleted.